“Blanche’s” Reversible Silk Shell [SOLD]

Here is your opportunity to own two of Rue’s “Golden Girl” pieces in one, because this particular shell was reversible and “Blanche” wore it both ways. You can see Rue is wearing it polka dot side out on the set for a behind-the-scenes photo with the girls and some of the crew, and you can spot her wearing it red side out in various episodes of the show. Rue had red gussets sewn in when it became a little too snug in later years – she wore this item for years in her personal life – and you can see they are seamed for the red side to be worn clean and the polka dot side to be worn under something. This piece comes with an 8″ x 10″ copy of the photo shown and a Certificate of Authenticity from Estate of Rue.

Stay Tuned…

Featured Items

Three more of Rue’s Christmas ornaments. The silver pine cone is glass and measures 7.5″ long and about 2.5″ at its widest. The apple is made of what feels like cardboard or thick treated paper with some sort of varnish on it. It measures 1.75″ across and has a slight crack on the side. The dog is 4″ high and about 3.5″ long. It is signed: “Love Eadie + Chris Xmas 1986″ and we believe it was from a couple of Rue’s employees (and friends) at the time. You can see the ornaments with Rue in the picture taken while she was decorating the tree. The other photo is Rue and her second husband taken in front of the completed tree. We’ll include copies of both pictures and a Certificate of Authenticity.

Rue McClanahan LOVED police officers in uniform (and out of uniform!), and the feeling was mutual. The Police Benevolent Association presented Rue with this framed Certificate of Appreciation back in 1997 when she first moved back to New York. The piece measures 14.25″ x 11.75″. Rue’s framed Certificate of Appreciation comes with a Certificate of Authenticity from Estate of Rue.

At one point after she moved back to New York City, the plans were in the works for Rue to release her own doll. We aren’t sure if the company that made this particular doll was the company she was working with, or if she was just using this one as a template for her doll, but this is the piece Rue was creating off of. Inside the box we found Rue’s original sketches and notes for the wardrobe design for her own doll. Naturally, the outfits are all things Rue wore and had in her own closet. This doll measures 16″ tall and about 4″ wide. The doll will come with Rue’s original design sketches and measurement notes – perhaps you can sew and complete Rue’s ideas? – and also a Certificate of Authenticity from Estate of Rue.

Rue loved to read and she owned a room full of books. Each of the books in this collection of 14 titles will have a printed bookplate on the inside indicating the following: “From the Private Library of Rue McClanahan.” Although “Miss Craig’s Face-Saving Exercises” from 1970 is almost too good to let go – someone really ought to frame the inside cover – we have decided that it is time to clear out Rue’s books. This stack consists of six hardcover and eight softcover titles, and it includes a wonderful coffee table book about theatre. Comes with one Certificate of Authenticity from Estate of Rue.

(We’ll pay shipping for US residents because we can use Media Mail, but out of Country must pay shipping – books are HEAVY! Email us at info@estateofrue.com and we’ll create a shipping button for you if you reside outside the United States.)

Rue grew up at a time when to be a “family” meant there was a husband, a wife, and at least one child. It took her many years and many marriages to give up on that fantasy and expand on her definition of what a family could be. Rue created a loving and supportive “chosen family” around her in the end; just like the girls did on “The Golden Girls.” Yet, she still would display the idea of the classic family she was hard-wired to believe in in various forms around her home. This little carved elephant group was one of those displays. The three pieces range in size from 2.25″ x 2.25″ inches for the “daddy” down to 1.75″ x 2″ for the “baby.” Rue’s carved wood elephant family comes with a Certificate of Authenticity form Estate of Rue.

Don’t you just love love? Rue simply adored love, and she particularly enjoyed falling in love and those early giddy stages where it was all you could think about. It is during that time when everything you see – even two little carved seagulls – reminds you of your love. Rue bought these carved wooden gulls during a trip to the ocean with her new love back in the late ’90s and then wrote their names on the bottoms of the pieces. This pair of love birds are between 7 and eight inches tall, over 5 inches wide, and just over 4 inches deep. The pair come with a Certificate of Authenticity from Estate of Rue.